Cuomo Gets Plea To Free 60's Radical

Published: December 18, 1994

NEW CITY, N.Y., Dec. 17—
In his last days in office, Gov. Mario M. Cuomo has received a plea for clemency from a former 1960's radical in prison for her role in a fatal Brinks robbery in Rockland County, according to the Rockland District Attorney .

The prisoner, Kathy Boudin, a former member of the Weather Underground radical group, is serving a 20-year-to-life sentence for her involvement in the 1981 robbery, which left two police officers and a third man dead.

Under a deal in which she pleaded guilty to murder, Ms. Boudin avoided three consecutive 25-year-to-life terms. She began serving her sentence on May 3, 1984, and is in the Bedford Correctional Facility.

Ms. Boudin, 51, is eligible for clemency because she has served at least half of her minimum sentence. Mr. Cuomo had no comment on the request, a spokesman, Thomas Conroy, said Friday.

The Rockland County District Attorney, Kenneth Gribetz, and the widow of one of the slain Nyack police officers immediately announced their opposition to clemency.

"This is a slap in the face to all law enforcement and their families," said Diane O'Grady, widow of Sgt. Edward O'Grady.

In his 12 years as Governor, Mr. Cuomo has granted clemency to 33 prisoners, including three murderers and a number of drug offenders, according to Anne Crowley, a spokeswoman for the Governor.